Emily woke up sore and groggy that next morning, her head hurt, and her neck was aching from the angle she had slept in. She reached for her phone and noticed to her horror that it was already 7.30, she had to be at work at 8. She had another 20 missed messages from Garcia, which she opened without reading.
Emily hurriedly got dressed, her hair still slightly greasy but she had no time for a shower. She sprayed some deodorant before running out the door. Only when she sat in her car did she realize that she had to face JJ. Her hands started shaking at the thought and she felt herself go pale instantly. She could just say it was a joke, however she wouldn't have run if it was.
She arrived at the office 20 minutes later, it was a quarter past 8 by now which meant the team would probably be briefed by now. And she was proven right a few minutes later when she arrived in the conference room where the team was seated as they listened to Garcia. '' Sorry I'm late'' huffed Emily when she took a seat, she opened her bag and pulled the tablet out of her bag where the file was located on.
Emily could feel everyone exchange glances before they bored their eyes into her. Each and every one profiling her, but also doing their best to not profile her. '' Garcia?'' Hotch eventually muttered after they had been silent for a while. '' Yeh? Oh- right..'' she said as she reached for the remote again.
'' Sorry Sir'' Garcia smiled, '' three students have been found murdered in their dorms. Carla James, 22. Annie Lockhart, 23 and Jimmy Ross, 21. They were all stabbed numerous times and eventually bled out on their dorm beds'' continued Garcia as she showed the pictures from the students. '' The unsub doesn't have a clear MO. The murders are consistent, but the victims aren't. Two dead women and one dead man. Racial boundaries were crossed'' noted Rossi as they took in the pictures. '' All three students went to a very small and prestigious university, it's extremely hard to get in to and they hand pick from their admissions who is allowed to study there'' said Garcia. '' Sounds almost like a cult'' chimed JJ in.
Emily filled chills crawl up her spine once she heard JJ's voice, her cheeks flushed slightly red and her eyes darted distractedly over the file. '' It's actually not that uncommon, prestigious universities like these and how you get in are often based on the wealth of your family'' said Reid. '' Sound even more like a cult'' chuckled JJ. ''They're setting up a place for us at the university and we can use resources from the PD in the area as well, they however want to keep this as down low as possible, it's almost admission season and they don't want to lose their wealthiest contenders'' said Hotch as he put the files back in his bag '' Wheels up in 30''.
Emily stood up cautiously, this was the moment she was dreading. During the briefing the couldn't talk to her, reach her. Morgan, Reid and Rossi followed Hotch out of the conference room, each of them realized it was not their moment. JJ and Garcia stayed behind.
Emily felt JJ pull her shoulder just as she was about to exit the room. '' We need to talk'' she said sternly, however worry crossed her face. '' It's okay Emily'' whispered JJ once she had coerced Emily into sitting back down. '' There's no time for this'' sighed Emily, '' the jet leaves in 20 minutes''. ''That's more than enough time for me to say what I need to say, and for Penelope to talk as well'' said JJ, Emily felt like she was being reprimanded, JJ was using the same voice she used when talking to Henry.
''Em, I'm so sorry, you asked me countless of times if I could shut up about it but I love you and I thought coming to terms with things would work for you, it didn't I guess…'' whispered Garcia, who genuinely looked frightened, '' I'm so sorry''. Emily shrugged, as she still avoided eye contact '' the harm is done, nothing I can do except accept the apology''.
'' Emily, I understand you might not want to talk about this right now. But I would like to, very soon. But I want to know one thing right now: I want to know that we can still trust each other in the field. I'm going straight to Hotch if you can't promise me that. I need to know that you can put your feelings about me aside, whatever they are, so that we can work as regularly as usual''.
'' When have I ever acted unprofessional in the field'' spat Emily, '' I'm the only agent that has never acted vulnerable in the field'' she added angrily. '' Yes Jennifer, I will have your back. Because I'm a good agent, and a decent human''. Emily left the room quickly after that, leaving a confused and hurt JJ behind.
Penelope wrapped her arms around JJ whose eyes started watering. '' She just needs time, she needs to process this'' Penelope said, '' Well so do I'' muttered JJ.
Emily stared out of the window from the jet, her mind racing, her heart beating quickly. She could hear Spencer rambling about the case to no one in particular, which eventually shook Emily out of her thoughts, Reid deserved to be heard. '' So, you think the unsub might be someone who was denied a place at the university?'' Emily asked for confirmation, '' Yes'' Reid said '' Rage, the feeling of failure. Mixing those two could be what triggered the unsub''. '' Sounds reasonable, I'll have Garcia look for all the denied students and cross reference them with probable criminal records'' Hotch said as he dialed Garcia's number.
They landed fairly quickly after they hung up with Garcia, they drove towards the University and parked their cars.
'' I understand why people would want to study here'' muttered JJ mesmerized once they saw the building. '' This building dates back to 1620, the baroque architecture you see are based on the influences by a few Italian architects. Francesco Borromini was one of these architects whom wanted buildings to look rich and stylish and with complicated designs'' said Reid whom massaged his head as he put on sunglasses.
'' You have a head ache?'' whispered Emily once she walked next to Reid as they entered the university. '' Hmm a bit'' agreed Reid distracted, '' Do you need anything?''. Reid shook his head no before introducing himself to the woman whom just walked their way.
''I'm Ximena Alverez, the headmistress. Thank you for coming to our establishment, we appreciate the discretion'' she said as she shook the hands of everyone from the team. '' If cleared one of our offices for you, the team from the PD is coming by as well. At agent Jareau's request, I've placed a board in the office as well'' said Miss Alverez.
JJ thanked her before they followed her into the office she had cleared for them. '' This is amazing'' exclaimed Reid as he made his way towards the ceiling tall book cases covering most of the large office. '' You're an avid reader, doctor?'' asked Miss Alvarez, '' If by avid you mean 20 books a week'' laughed Morgan. '' I love reading, I wanted to get a bachelor in English literature, but I ended up getting bachelor's in psychology, sociology and philosophy'' shrugged Reid as he gently stroked the cover of an old dusty book. '' Have you ever considered getting another PHD?'' she asked curious. '' Oh he has'' chimed Morgan, ''I have three actually; in mathematics, chemistry and engineering'' said Reid before he grinned.
The team chuckled as Reid left a flabbergasted looking headmistress near the book cases. Hotch opened the case file and planted it in the middle of the table, they waited for the headmistress to leave before starting. '' The PD is coming in soon with their witness report, but JJ and Emily I would like you both to talk to the two female roommates, see if they knew Carla and or Annie or if they know anything they haven't told the PD''.
JJ cast Emily an awkward glance, as she attempted to smile. But Emily didn't even look up. Hotch glanced from Emily to JJ and back before continuing. '' Morgan and Reid, I want you to talk to Jimmy's roommate, see if he knows anything. Or if he maybe knew if Jimmy knew either Annie or Carla''. They nodded as Reid pushed his copy of the file in his bag. '' Rossi and I will go to the mortuary'' Hotch eventually ended.
'' We'll meet back here in a few hours to discuss the findings, and get a possible profile'' Hotch said as he watched his team hurry out the door.